In 1986, a federal court ruled against a Columbus, Ohio test in which would-be firefighters had to carry a 125-pound sandbag along a twisted course. Judge Joseph Kinneary said it was unfair to count off points against recruits who chose to drag the sandbag instead of carrying it, especially since it is often safer to stay close to the floor in smoky rooms. The court also disallowed the city's practice of rewarding credit for speed when accomplishing various rescue tasks. Kinneary reasoned that some recruits preferred to pace themselves rather than expend all their energy at once, and characterized arguments in favor of speedier rescues as "anecdotal."
